Consolidation an issue for teens in Katahdin region

This column was written by Schenck High School students. Their adviser is Eric Steeves.

More than a year ago, consolidation was a hot issue in the Millinocket, East Millinocket, Medway and Woodville areas, and the lack of student involvement was an even bigger issue for the students who attend school in these communities.

Now, more than one year later, it still is a hot issue, and the question of when students will be involved in the consolidation process remains. Students are worried that their concerns about having a consolidated school system will continue to go mostly unheeded.

The major reason for these concerns is the vast difference between the two schools in curriculum, policies, athletics, grading and scheduling.

For instance, although Stearns High School offers more course offerings, including independent study programs, Schenck High School offers several Advanced Placement courses and has articulation agreements with Eastern Maine Technical College to offer college-credit courses during the regular school day. The grading systems also differ between the two schools. Stearns uses an alphabetical grading scale, while Schenck has a 1-100 numerical grading scale.

In addition, Schenck offers more extracurricular enrichment activities such as Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, debate club and photography, while Stearns offers more sports opportunities such as track and field, ice hockey and field hockey. Since Stearns offers more sports opportunities, better athletic facilities are present.

The details of these issues have not yet been worked out, and students in both school systems have concerns about how the conflicting issues will be addressed in the consolidation discussions.

After approximately two years of consolidation discussion, students still feel that their voices are not being heard. Most feel that their opinions or concerns are being overlooked.

“Point-blank, we should be involved. It’s our education, not our parents’ education,” said Mark Ouellette, a sophomore at Schenck High School.

Alicia Martin, a junior at Stearns High School, agreed and said, “Students should be able to speak their opinions without being influenced [by local adults].”

Area Superintendents Brent Colbry and Sandra MacArthur said they also believe that students need to be involved in the consolidation process. They disagree, however, on the extent of student comment.

School Union 113 superintendent MacArthur said, “Students should be involved now with everything from the curriculum to the uniform colors.”

Colbry, Millinocket school district superintendent, said, “I feel that if we have too many groups, this process will get bogged down. I definitely think children need to be involved with school identity, but only after everything has been physically put together.”

Both superintendents want student involvement for the same reasons. Both feel that if students get the chance to have their say in creating their school identity, they will feel more of a sense of pride for their consolidated school. School pride would affect the learning environment positively for students.

The current student involvement or lack thereof is not popular with the student population. The students feel that they will need to be involved to realize the full ramifications of consolidation, as they are for the most part uneducated about the issue. Although students have been told that they will be involved, the question of when remains unanswered.